New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-10-02
JON'THAN'S NEW IDEES.

Adaptabi.ity is sometimes dangerous gift; but
Phebs Martin, after few years Of teaching district
school. found It a wonderfully helpful eue, espe-
ciaily when she WAS thrust into new and disagree
able surroundings.
remarked philosophicallv, when people asked her
opinions Of things she had to endure IN her iinerant
SO when she received call to finish a
term at the Pike Branch District she went
fortified to accept whatever fortune had In store
She resolutcly forgot tho stark ugiiness Of the
little whitowashed CABIN that became her Rome.
and IsSced IN the asCcps ,sd os
watching the grain, forever shoaiina IRON gseen 20
sold. and surgIng up and down the valley under
srsnd Old trees delighted her too. Everywhere the
oaks lowered in arches and colonnades that might
np sas
that wrote in cipher on the sky, and dreaming Of
past or future, or reading good poetry
West grew to be like dear friends to her, a.
she watched them dally-fn the morning
sharply outlined in purest Dlue not Ike IN
ent life at noon with softer confaurations. gray,
as though swathed deer-skin and at evening
ba ss ro %a ssssed II them
Ah!' said Pbebe eff / conld ave out doors all
the time aud not be stified in that little house
The nights at first seemed uncomfortable. The
cabin was everrun with rats and mice. which held
orr,eA In the nooks aud crannes of roof and walls
and whisked inquistively across her bed and and
famiiiariy darted under her pillows. The iandlady
would allow no eats around the place, for their
taste for young turkey ddepopulated her flock; and
creased in numbers and daring. Pheoc. after q
time qaelied the riot among her nerves bv reason
ing that the, world had known put one BISHOP
Hatto. though rodents were an ancient institution
This philosophy and the constant visha-
tons combined to Danish fear and nervousness
until she was able to sleep calmly , .,
Ti,>,.. flaf FUN n
about on every side of her just as Phebe had
reached her most refreshing slumber she persuaded
of the Iarks and watching the shifting shadows on
mountains and valley, was feast OF sound and
sight that could be appreciated only when the Gay
was Young.
The landlady, slim. with STOPPING shoulders and
a hobbling walk, irresstibly reminded Phebe of
one of her own turkey hens She smoked ,to3 AMI
boastea that she could git away with more Jeems
River Honey Dew tobacker than the ole man. an he
want no sloueh at it. neither" The woman went
sbout with her pipe IN her mouth Sn n IL al al
sos INTO the NJ food q times But Phebs
stomach and an aversion to tobacco az an article
Of diet. by announcing that potatoes cooked with
Their on AND eggs 1oae IN ne sRf Ss
diet unless she could help prepare the meals as she
sometimes did.
When an investigation, instituted by the land:
lord himself, day, as to the unusual flavor or
the coffee disclosed the fact that of the land
iads lost short pipes was lending its strength and
aroma to that of the berry, Phebe was confirmed IN
the belief that coffee not wholesome beverage.
aud henceforth water became her drlnk.
With people as with things she accepted the ln-
eyitsble She talked alphabetically 10 every one,
and all Pike Branch was in love with the school
marin.
But the experience. at once grotesqqe and
pathetic winch she most delighted to relate IN
after years was of her first party at Pike Branch.
Phebe had heard the children discussing the
coming event for several days. and had gathered
Az 70 alahr
Dusenberrys seventeenth birthday; though as she
was unacquainted with the family she had not
expected 10 be invited.
child brought her verbal invitation. Pheoe, re-
membering that her landady and Mrs. Dusenberry
conveyance from her boarding place could be OBJ
tanned, politely declined, explaining her inability
20 get TO Mrs Dusenberry's. But the hos pitable
party rivers again sent word that 1T that as all
10 bender her comm" they would see that she
got there"
The loneed for date came at last Very little
studying was done in school that day. for every
eh,ld was going to the party. Every girl had her
hair painfully rolled over rea-leads. or braided in
innufnerabe tight tails. In preparation for the
evenings curls and Climbs.
Phebe glapclng out of the window in the after
noon happened to see q slouching figure coming
be- for passers-by were rare. Then she forgot all
about it until the murmurOus hum OF Incidence IN
the house broken in upon by peculiar chuck
hing noise outside the door Suddenly OF the big
girls with o head-dress of lead ru- he'd out. After
short barley she came in trlumphantly with the
awkward figure Phebe had noticed al her side.
threshold, " this is Mr.. Jon'than Robblns"
Phebe bowed gravey and asked the visitor TO be
seated.
He doubled his ungainly figure into series of
angles and wriggied between bench and desk
Phebe took an inventory OF the long drab hair
the eyes with great expanse OF white, IN the
centre Of which a small spot about two shades
darker than the rest, the long face. covered with
scattcriug beard, ana wondered what the man had
Cor Haf td not %
In school matters, for he yawued alarningy with
creakipg sound. during lecture on objective
case and began trimming his nails and cracking
his finger joints when the geography class was re-
citing.
Atreccss time every pupil passed ont, and Phebe
Mr.. Robbins only shufled his feet and stretched
himself
"blamed hot an swcaty traveilin'p "Pye Just
came down from st. john raound by Colusy. too
the heat powerful haint bad no rest
neither, sence I've been here. Yon sec, MIS-
s0 0,s to sSs folks Rsr sbius ss
about here that there can't be no dom s
ithaout Jon'than Robbins to run en- Everything
~ different places to-day seem about things, an
inyifin' folks. an now Eve dropped In TO invite
you"
IN PSsSs that Sas
invited me. and promised TO send for me-"
Eyes, know all about 1T. That's fell onto my
.honlders. too I'VE got TO come an get you"
The rueful yet important Air with which this
Urgent "invitstion" was delivered was almost
posing On you so r she said. "Pll write note to
Mrs. Dasen berry and ask her to excuse me-
.f ceremonies. who really felt quito proud Of the
idea of escorting the popular schoci-narn. " You
he ready about sundOwn, an III be after yoa and
he hurried off with the air of ono who had dis
charged disagreeable task. 80,
Al line supper table that night Phebe told OF
her visitor and the invitation We'll" claeS-
fsfed the landlady al s'pose Jen'than thought he
vas dom that job up fne Of all ecdiois; he Is
the most surprisn'. If was gal ! woulnt step
ont @, tic house with sech an objcck."
Come come now, womap," put IN the landlord,
81 rcckoa school-maEm has seen bigger fools n
Jonthnn."